Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



Ira/Mr J. F. o'coN NoR FRIC''ION SHOCK ABSORBING' MECHANISM Sheets-Sheet 1f' original Filed April so. 1925 R., ,wd Lw N $1 v June 21 1927.

i Q {.,mmmmml I d E Q7/401 J. F. OCONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed April 501925 June 2l 1927.

Patentes Jene- 21, 1927.

`UNI-TanA STATES l a'ra1-rr`v OFFICE. 'I

JOHN' I'. OGONNOB, Ol' CHICAGO, ILLDN'OIS, ASSIGNOR T0 W. II. EINER, INLC., Ol' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION F DELAWARE.

IBiICTION SHOCK-ABSOBBING ".MECHAISM.

Application lci ,April 30, v1925, Serial No. 28,899. Renewed April 18, 1927. l

This invention-relates to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to.provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism especially adapted forA railway draft riggings having graduated action durin the compression stroke, including heavy lal frictional resistance produced by relative (movement of a pluralit of friction elements, wherein the frictione ements are movable as a unit during one of the stages of compression to effeet relatively light resistance, the relative movement of the plates being subsequently produced by arresting movement of certain of said plates, while permitting continuedl movement ofthe remaining plates relativelv c' thereto.

. A. further object of the invention is to pro- .vide a mechanism of the character indicated, including a plurality of relatively movable vfriction plates and means in the form of a sto column having' limited movement, to which certain of said parts are anchoredto arrest movement of the. latter plates whilew 2 5 permitting continued movement of the remaining co-operating plates.

Other obj ectsand advantages of the invention will more fully and clearly a pear from the description and claims heremafter following.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure' 1 is a. longitudinal, sectional view of a portion of a railway vdraft rigging, showing my improvements in con-y nection therewith, the section through the friction shell and wedge system being taken on two planes 120o apart. Figures'2 and 3 are vertical, transverse, sectional views corresponding respectively to the lines 2 2 and L 3 3. of Figure '1.f And `Figure lfis a rear vend elevational view of the wedge member used in connection with my improved mechamsm. v

In said drawings,10-10 indicate channelshaped center or draft sillsA of a railwa car underframe to the inner faces of whic are `secured front stop lugs 11--11 and rear stop v.lugs 12-12. i Thefinner' end portion ofthe drawbar is designated by 13, to whichis operatively connected a hooded yoke 14` of well- 50 known form. The shock absorbin mechamsm (proper, hereinafter more ully descrlbe and front `and rear followers 1,5 and 16 are disposed within the yoke. The yoke land the (parte therewi'thin are operativel supporte by a det-achable saddle plate `1 supported from the draft sills. The friction Shell employed in connection with my improved mechanism is preferably of cylindrical f orm and in order to properly center 60 and .guide the same between the draft sills, a pair of guide plates 18 are disposed on op-J poslte sides thereof', the same being suitably secured to the correspondin center sills.

My improved shoe absor in mechanism comprises broadly acombined riction shell and spring cage A; a wedge B; three friction shoes O O-C; two sets of friction plates D and E; a stop column element F; a main spring resistance G; a. relatively T0 lighter additional spring resistance H; a spring follower ring K; and a retainer bolt L.

The combined friction shelly and spring cage is in the form of asubstantially cylindrical casting having a transversecrear end wall 118 co-operating with the rea-r follower 16. The friction shell section 19 is formed at the forward end of the casting "A,e the l spring ca e proper bein formed rearwardly thereof. he friction s ell 19 has three interior cylindrical friction surfaces 20 converging inwardl of the mechanism.

The wedge B lsin the form of a relatively y heavy cast block suitably cored as indicated at 21. The block B is provided with a transverse iat outer face 22 ada ted to bear on the inner side of the main ollower 15. At the inner end, the wedge block B has three rearwardly convergin wedge faces 23-23 symmetrically dispose about the --axis of the 9 mechanism. An annular `flange-2st is pro` vided at the outer end kof the wedge, -the vflange being adafpted vto engage 'and bear o n the outer ends o the friction plates D.

The hree friction shoes vClare of like design, (ich shoe having a .longitudinally disposedouter true cylindrical ction surface 25 adapted to co-operate with'ythe l corre'- spend' 'friction plate E.A on the inner side, eac vshoe has a wedge face v123 correolperate with one of the wed e spondingly inclined to and ada ted to coaces 23 .of e block B. AAt the rear en each shoe C has a flat transverseface 26 forming an abut-` ment for the outer en'd of the spring resist- .ance coil H. l j

The friction plates D and E are dis 'sed vbetween the wedge friction shoes an the 4 friction surfaces of the shell l19,. The plates D which are threein number, are all of likedesign, 'each plate being curved in transverse section and having Vtrue cylindrical outer and inner friction surfaces, the outer f, friction surfaces thereof `so-operating with the correspondin friction surfaces of the friction shell an the inner friction surfaces co-opera-ting with the plates E which are interposed between'the same andthe wedge friction shoes. `The plates E which are also greater length than the friction plates E and 4 in -the' normal position of the parts havetheir front and rearends lattl;

4projecting beyond the vThe stop column Fis in the formY of a I cylinder open at its front end and having 7an annular-'shoulder 28 at the rear end thereof. ,The rear end vwall of the stop column l has "an opening 29. therein adapted to -freely Vaccommodate a -boss 30 inwardly projecting from the rear wall 118 of the casting A. Y

t the front end, the stop -column is proded'with acpair of spaced annular flanges 32, the rib 32 being considerf ably heavier than the rib 31 and spaced in-- i vwardly therefrom, leaving an annular groove between the ribs to receive the correigbeing ams anchored a `riding flanges 27 of the plates E, tle plates the sto column v"el-ement for movement in unison t erewith.

It*will be evident that the heavy annular rib- 32 serves as a substantial, abutment for .the inner ends of'the friction plates E while the. mechanism is being compressed. Outj Fis-limited and iflfiaidadb e sea Ay esp L VThe spring followerrml ward movement of the stop column element by a 34 abutting the boss engaging the annular 'shoulder 28 co umn the disk 34 in turn being resistance-H.V

isV in the form of a relatively heavy ring avng the o thereof ofsuicient diameter to l y commodate the cylindrical portion of theV stop column element F. The ring K is inter-- osed between the mainl springres-istanee and the iniier ends of the friction plates D. a t

.The main spring resistance lGr which :is in the form of a relatively heavycoil, has'its opposite ends bearing respectively on-'the outer series of end wall 118 of the spring ca e--section of the casting 'A and the 4inner si e of the follower ring K. The spring G is normally under initial compression, being so held by the follower ring K which bears. on the, "inner ends of the plates -D Which in turn bear on the annular lange'24 of the wedge block B.

The s ring resistance element H is disvosed within the column element F and has Y its front end bearingon the innr ends of the' friction wedge shoes. This spring is lighter than theouterv s ring G and has its front end extendiner eyond the corresponding end of the co umn as most clearly s own lin Figure 1. 4

The mechanism is held under initial comression and maintained of uniform overall ength by the retainer, bolt L which has the rear end thereof anchored within the hollow boss 30 on the end wall 118 of the spring cage and lits front end anchored to the wedge 'block B', the nut of the bolt being slidably f accommodated within the o ning 21 of said block. lThe head end of t e bolt, which is disposed within thehollow boss is also movably accommodated therein.

. The normal position of the'parts in'full release is that shown in Figure 1,-whereinl the outer series of plates D is shown as abutting the annular flange on the wedge B, the spring follower ring abutting the inner ends of said plates, and the annular -shoulder 28 of the column element abutting the disk 34, thereby positioning the innermost series of friction plates E in their outer position. It is also pointed out that-when the arts `are in normal position, thereis a slight c earance between' the annular rib or flange 32 and the spring follower ring K.

The operation of myimproved shockV absorbing mechanism, assuming va compression stroke, is as follows: The followers 15 and 16 will he moved relatively toward each other, thereby carrying the wedge B, wedge friction shoes C and friction plates D in wardly of the friction shell in unison, at the same time setting up a wedging or lateral spreading action between the wedge and friction shoes, placing the friction plates D i and E under lateral pressure. As the wedge block B, friction plates AD andV wedge fric-v vIl" rearwardly. Duri-n'l this action, both the The described action will continue until the inner end of the stop column comes into engagement with the inner face of the end wal] 118 of the spring cage, whereupon movement of the friction plates E will be positively arrested. Continued inward movement of the vwedge B will cause the friction shoes and the friction plates D to be moved inwardly relatively to the friction shell and thev now stationary plates E, thereby greatly augmenting the frictionalj resistance. The compression of the mechanism .will continue as described either until the actuating force isl reduced, or the main front follower 15 comes'into abutment with the front end of the casting A, whereupon the actuating force will be transmitted directly through lthe casting to the rear follower 16, the casting A functioning) as a stop column to prevent the s rings G and H from being driven solid.

Re ease of the mechanism will bev assured by the spring H which bears directlyon the wedge block C, thereby permittin release of the wedging system independent y of any movement of the friction plates. Expansion of the spring G will carry the plates D outwardly of the mechanism, the friction plates of the stop column with the disk 34:.`

4E being carried therewith due to the friction existingbetween the lates, outward movement of the plates being finally limited by engagement of the shoulde') 28 ut- Ward movement of the platesA D will be arrested by the wedgeB, the outward movement of which in turn is limited by the retainer bolt L.

While I have herein shown and described what I now `consider the preferred manner .of carrying out my invention, theE same is .merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that comewithin the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim: e 1.' In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, thel combination with a column-loadsustaining member; of a plurality of friction elements disposed at one end of said member, all of said elements being movable as a unitV during the compression stroke; means having limited movement with reference lto said member co-operating with the other end thereof for arresting movement of certain of said elements after a lpredetermined-compression of the mechanism and permitting the remaining friction elements ber and follower being movable to be moved l`relatively thereto; a follower, said follower' and member being. movable rel-y atively toward and from each other; combinedrestoring and cushioning spring means; and lateral pressure creatingl means co-operating withl said friction elements for pressing the same 'into intimatel 'frictional contact upon relative approach of said follower and member.

2. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a columnload Isustaining member; of a follower, -said memrelatively toward and from`each other; a plurality of relatively movable friction elements movable as a unit dui-ing relative movement of said member andl follower during a prede- -termined compression of the mechanism; a

second column to which certain ofsaid elements are anchored, said second column having limited movement with reference to said .column load sustaining member for arresting movement'of said last named elements after sid predetermined compression to compel the remaining elements to move relatively thereto; a main spring resistance; and lateral pressure-creating means'co-operating with said elements to place them under lateral pressure upon relative movement of said follower'and column-load sustaining member, said lateral pressure creating means also having engagement with said remaining elements to effect movement thereof with reference to the column load sustaining member.

3. In a friction shock absorbing' mechanism, the combination with a column load sustaining member; of a pressure transmitting element having wedge means associated therewith, said element and member being movable relatively toward and from 'each 155 other; friction shoesA co-operating with said wedge means; a plurality of relatively movablenfriction plates movableas a unit during relative movement of said member and element during a predetermined compression of the mechanism; a second column member v to which certain-of said plates areanchored,

'said column member having limited movement with reference to -said column load sustaining member for-arresting movement of said last named plates after said predetermined compression to compel relatlve movement of said friction shoes and last named plates; abutment means on said pressure transmitting element adapted to engage the remaining plates to effect movement thereof .inwardly of the mechanism during the entire compression stroke; and means yield-D ingly opposingmovement of said plates and friction shoes.'

4. Iiiv a friction shock absorbing, mechanism, the combination with .a column-loadsustaining member; of a plurality of relativelyv movable friction plates; a lateral wedge pressurecreating system co-operating f) mechanism; means Ill e i pressure creatwith said .plates, said wed ates being simuling system and allof-said taneously movable inwar anism during initial compression of the' for arresting movement of certain of said plates after a predetermined initial compression, whereby the remaining plates and 'friction wedgeL stem j are moved relatively thereto during t e repressure-creatin mainderof the compression stroke; a sprin resistance means operatively associated wit -said lateral pressure-creating system` and and shell being relatively movable toward" and from each other; sets of friction plates within the shell, one of said sets being enaged by said abutment means and movable in unison with said pressure transmitting means and the remaining plates havin limited movement inwardly vof the she simultaneously with the outer plates; lateral wedge ressure creating means co-operating with said sets of lates, said pressure creating means including a wedge element and friction shoes engaging the innermost of said plates of said sets; means` for arresting movement of said remaining lates after a predetermined compression o the mechanism; and spring resistance means opera.

tively associated with said lateral pressure creating means and lates. i

6. In a friction s ock absorbing mechanism, the combinatio'n'i'with a friction shell having inwardly 'converging friction sui'- faces'; of a pressure transmitting 4wedge means having abutment means associated therewith, said pressure transmit-ting means and shell being relatively movable toward and from each other sets vof friction plates within the shell, one of said sets being engaged by said abutmentmeans and movable( in unison with said pressure-transmita' means and the remaining set having limite .movement inwardly of the shell simultaneously withthe other plates; lateral wed means cooperating wit saidy sets of p ates; means for 4arresting movement of. said remaining set of plates after a predetermined compression of the mechanism; and spring means operatively associated with said lateral pressure-creatingr means and plates, Y `7. In a frition shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having inwardly converging 'friction surfaces; of two sets ing with the plates -of the other set, one of said sets of plates 1y of the mechthe combination with a friction shell operating v entire compression of curved 'friction plates,V theplates of one set frictionally cio-operathaving movement with reference to the shell; column means to which vsaid last named plates are anchored, said.. column having limited movement with reference to said shell for arresting movement of the plates anchored thereto after a predetermined compression of the mechanism; lateral pressure creating means operatively associated withx said plates;and s ring I resistance means operatively associated with said pressure meansfand plates.

8. In a friction shock absorbing 'mechanism, the combination with a friction shell 'having interior friction surfaces; of an annular series ofjfriction plates co-operatin with the friction surfaces of theshell, sai plates and shell being relatively movable; a second annular series of friction plates cowith said ifrst named plates, said last named plates and shell having limited relative movement; a column element t0.

which said last named plates are anchored, said column and shell having limited relative movement for arresting movement of the plates anchored thereto after a predetermined compression of the mechanism; a lateral wedge pressure creating friction system co-operating with said last named series of plates; a mainv spring resistance co-operating with said two series\ of plates; and a second s ring resistance -co-operating with said we e pressure creating system, said last name spring being disposed within said column element.v

9. In ja friction nism, the combination 'with front and rear stops; of a combined friction vshell and spring cage having follower` means associated therewith co-operating with certain of saidstops; additional follower means cooperating wit the remaining stops; ayyoke enclosing said combined spring .cage an friction shell and'follower means; annular sets of friction plates within said shell, cervtain of said plates having limited lon tudinal movement with reference to t e shell; and the 'remainin plates being able with reference tot e shell durmg'the stroke; wedge-pressurecreating means for placing said annular sets .of plates under lateral pressure; and

spring resistance means-operatively associateduwit n said wedgepressure-creating means and plates.

10. In a friction shock absorbingy mechanism, the combination Vwith a friction shell having interior curved from each toward and away other; a carrier shock absorbing mecha-y friction surfaces; of4 apressuretransmitting member, said mem- `ber and shell being relatively movable said shell; two setsof curved friction plates within the shell, said sets bein relatively movable' with reference to each ot er, certain of said plates being anchoredv to said carrier means for. limiting the relative movement o said carrier and friction shell; lateral wenige resistance means co-operating with said pressure creating means co-operatmg with lateral Wedge pressure creating means.

said pressure transmitting means for placing In witness that Il claim the foregoing I 10 c,

the plates under lateral pressure, saidlateral have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th 5 pressure creating means including luralday of April, 1925.

1ty of friction elements engaging the riction surfaces of the adjacent p atesg. anda spring JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

